Voodoo Envy m:790, 12lbs of glorious battle rig circa 2005-ish
Posted by Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit | retrobattlestations | View on Reddit | 118 comments
I found this in a storage unit I purchased in an auction. Came in its own, branded aluminum briefcase and is simply the most gratuitous laptop I have ever seen. $5300 back when it was new it boasted some monster specs for the day.
https://www.pcmag.com/archive/voodoo-envy-m790-140840
onefiveonesix@reddit
Two optical drives?!
IchRocke@reddit
I've never seen a laptop with two optical drives like this.
THIS is the baller config for the one who needs to sell bootleg offspring cds to afford this laptop
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
Not to make it weird but there is a video capture card in it ("catv" and what looks like "camcorder in" on the right rear) so I am betting this would have made a great onsite mobile "adult film" production machine.
Xguarded@reddit
Goodday, do u still have this laptop?
Aggravating-Exit-660@reddit
Also snuff
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
I mean, it goes without saying
surfintheinternetz@reddit
quick, get the black light!
TechCF@reddit
Dell and possibly HP / Compaq had some multibay machines that could be configured with two drives. Though side by side. This stacked offset config is surely special!
hamburgler26@reddit
Even dual optical drives in a DESKTOP wasn't super common, totally insane on a laptop.
EchoGecko795@reddit
I currently have 2 BD multi burners installed, but they don't see the use that they used to get. My last build had 4. 3 DVD burners and one BD burner. But I used to use a lot of optical media.
hamburgler26@reddit
Oh I know it was a thing I remember having a combo of a couple of different ones at some point, but the need for that for most people was brief and would only be needed now if you have a special need.
I feel like just burning ISOs you got online or ripping discs to file has been the norm for so long now.
Troll_berry_pie@reddit
It was if you had a CD / DVD Burner.
hamburgler26@reddit
Oh I know, I had that at one point but that was a pretty brief thing and completely unheard of with a laptop.
BeOSRefugee@reddit
https://media1.tenor.com/m/mg0QH3Ui9-gAAAAd/this-is-getting-out-of-hand-now-there-are-two.gif
crozone@reddit
Best way to burn DVDs :)
TheGillos@reddit
I read that in my head like Dennis from Always Sunny.
"Two wars?!"
z3r0n3gr0@reddit
Look the two optical drives got me LOL this is the first time i have seen this.
Culator@reddit
These days you don't even get ONE optical drive in a laptop, and you have to install your own in a prebuilt desktop if there's even a bay available.
gameboy3800@reddit
these are incredible machines. i've got a similar one in a slightly more vivid green. will post in this sr soon : )
T1m3Wizard@reddit
That thing looks beautiful. Power it on!
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
I did, but no hard drives were in it. Got new drives, now I need an OS. I am having it inspected before running it since it has sat for what seems like a very long time just out of an abundance of caution.
TechIoT@reddit
Please also check the Video card cooling system, the D900T loves to fry it's own GPU
sa547ph@reddit
Windows XPSP3 gonna run nice on it.
TechIoT@reddit
Wait a tic
I have that exact machine
Except with an Alienware badge lol
JudasZala@reddit
This is a laptop in name only; it’s classified as a desktop replacement.
It more likely has a desktop version of the P4 processor.
I used to have a Dell Inspiron laptop that I got back in 2004; it originally had a 2.8 P4 CPU (Prescott core), but I upgraded to a 3.2 GHz P4 (Northwood core, which runs cooler and uses less power than the newer Prescott core, which are notorious for running hot than the Northwood).
dandy_andy_01@reddit
This looks nearly identical to an Alienware I briefly owned in 2005. Just had a different paint job. Probably used the same Clevo chassis.
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
Update: the dual hard drives (raid array) were removed by someone at some point so I ordered a pair of Crucial SSD drives. Opinion; assuming no other issues would you install the original XP Windows or something newer?
CSRT27@reddit
Hello, I would try to get one it to boot from just one drive successfully before trying it with the raid controller. The raid control was an issue for the Clevo D9T model. Also, If you have questions… I can help because I have a Voodoo 790 too.
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
Thank you for the advice! I hope to get to this this week.
n55_6mt@reddit
If you go with SSDs, install Windows 7. XP on solid state drives can be a pain.
Blue2501@reddit
Why's that?
n55_6mt@reddit
XP doesn’t have native TRIM support so drivers and software is needed from the SSD manufacturer to keep the drive healthy. Unfortunately the drives that have XP support are hard to come by as is the associated software these days.
It will still work with out TRIM on most SATA drives but at an increased risk of suddenly not working.
MartianInTheDark@reddit
I would put Linux Mint XFCE on it, install retroarch and some free Linux games. And of course, you can go on the internet with it.
randylush@reddit
I would dual boot XP and Vista
Lukeno94@reddit
It's a P4 - anything newer isn't really going to be suited to it, although the fact they can go up to 4GB of RAM definitely would help a bit.
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
Very valid point on the P4
do-wr-mem@reddit
Unlike modern HP Envy models this Envy actually makes me envious
MortgageStraight666@reddit
HOLY SHIT I NEED ONE
Nastybirdy@reddit
Holy shit, Look at all those ports! And DUAL DVD drives? Goddamn.
missed_sla@reddit
Voodoo before HP consumed it and starting shitting out Voodoo branded turds.
66659hi@reddit
Good ol' Horrid Products.
vaughannt@reddit
Honest question were HP PCs ever good? Every HP I've ever touched has been hot garbage. Their calculators on the other hand...
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
HP has always been the Dodge of computer brands. They create a flashy product, some have decent specs, but they are just weighted down with bloat and tend to grenade themselves.
weaseltorpedo@reddit
Idk the enterprise/business stuff I've owned has been pretty good. Z440 workstation with a xeon e5 1680, z2 g4 sff with an 8th gen i7....but tbh i've repurposed them into gaming rigs for my kids, so they're living a relatively easy life and my sample size is small.
66659hi@reddit
Some HP products have been good. I have an Elitebook 8560W that I use for XP and 7 stuff and it's built like a tank. But most of their stuff sucks.
DeepDayze@reddit
I still have an Elitebook 8460p that I just restored and upgraded and it runs like a champ for a 14 year old laptop. Yes not all HP machines are junk but their lower end stuff does.
Lukeno94@reddit
It entirely depends on what lines you look at - which applies to most brands. Most of the consumer-grade stuff, especially in the last 10-15 years, is hot garbage - especially the cheaper units. But that applies to most brands. If you step it up to a ProBook, they're not too bad, and the EliteBooks and ZBooks are pretty solid for the most part (apart from the G3/G4s having major issues with cracking ethernet port drop doors).
DeepDayze@reddit
I also own a probook 640 G2 and it's not a bad machine. Love the full res screen compared to the 800x1366 screen on the Elitebook.
66659hi@reddit
Even the Probooks and Elitebooks have gotten crappy today. Honestly, I think of Dell Latitudes being the best nowadays.
Lukeno94@reddit
I didn't see too many ProBooks, but we ran EliteBooks at my previous employer, and the later ones were just fine as well. Only problem came with the occasional tendency for machines to tie up and need the battery disconnecting to kick them back to life - not particularly widespread in a fleet of hundreds though.
66659hi@reddit
I have an old 8560W that I love. It had XP drivers available so I dual booted it with XP and 7 and use it offline to play dvds or old XP video games.
crozone@reddit
Before the year 2000, yes. They made very nice RISC UNIX workstations. Well, basically everything HP made before the year 2000 was phenomenal, before they spun off all of their talent into their own companies.
Honestly, even some of the mid 2000s HP Pavilion desktops were pretty good, you could get a nice Pentium 4 Media Centre style machine with FireWire, TV tuner, and dual DVD drives for a pretty good price. Never had any issues with mine, anyway.
Desmaad@reddit
Back in the '90s, possibly.
Guilty-Shoulder-9214@reddit
Tbf, what they’re doing with the brand and especially Victus is rectifying some of their past sins. Not entirely, but at least there are some respectable systems coming out now.
Trimus2005@reddit
Holy shit!
Can i take it on a ride and install windows 98, 2000 and xp on it?
Man i wanna use it
It looks sexxy beefy and crazy man i want a laptop like that not what we have these days
stevenslender123@reddit
I have the Alienware equivalent (Aurora M7700). These were based on a Clevo/Sager D900 Chassis. Mine has a FX60 Processor, 1GB of RAM, and a 7800GTX, all covered in Conspiracy Blue paint. Cool laptop, don't sell it.
GenesBazooka@reddit
This guy? This guy fucks!
UKMatt2000@reddit
Dual DVD burners, parallel and DVI with no HDMI or DP. This really is of its time.
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
I feel like if HDMI and DP had been around back then they would have used the same amount of space except with two HDMI ports and two DP ports.
UKMatt2000@reddit
HDMI was kind of around, the PS3 came out with it in 2006 but it wouldn't have been on monitors at the time. Some TVs maybe.
Starlanced@reddit
This is the family truckster of laptops, it’s even the same color!
accent2012@reddit
Man I remember these. They were very expensive. Open it up
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
I barely remember them, I wasn't exactly in the market for a $5300 laptop in the mid-2000's, lol. I just dropped it off with my repair guy to clean up anything on the inside and to diagnose a boot issue. It has been sitting for quite some time.
DeepDayze@reddit
You could restore this fine machine and use it for a gaming station. Bet that must been your most valuable find in that storage unit!
eddiespaghettio@reddit
Green with Envy
DanSantos@reddit
I remember reading that this was supposed to be like “your last laptop ever” because it was upgradable. That never happened I guess.
BevP99@reddit
I bet this thing would smash Half Life 2
SativaSawdust@reddit
THIS is what peak performance looks like.
MartyMacfly12@reddit
The green. The Chonk. I'm so jealous
CompareMoncho@reddit
This is what i'm talking about, lets goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Just_A_Gay_Toaster@reddit
🍆
BatsRule-info@reddit
wow!!
ironicart@reddit
This was a weird time for laptops… glorious
Snake_eyes_12@reddit
Back when gaming laptops were a bit over engineered.
TygerTung@reddit
Must generate quite a bit of heat
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
There are FOUR fans built into the bottom of it. One dedicated to just the ram sticks. Surprisingly quite, though.
baldude69@reddit
The peak of port and peripheral overload. It’s amazing, thanks for sharing. How much does it weight, and how do the speakers sound?
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
The laptop alone is 12.4lbs. I will know how well the speakers sound after I get an OS on the drives. Hoping to have it all done sometime next week.
Oscarcharliezulu@reddit
This laptop is truly aa cross between heavy metal and edm.
bestestdude@reddit
Most badass looking laptop I've ever seen.
sa547ph@reddit
How high-end PCs and laptops then between 2005 and 2011(?) were defined as having to stuff in as many peripherals and ports as possible, as I have a motherboard which even has SPDIF optical and IEEE1394 ports (now made obsolete by Thunderbolt), and this laptop also has 1394 ports asides from sporting two DVDRW drives.
Tyr_Kukulkan@reddit
Hold on, it came with a case?
I have the more powerful AMD version. I need to get some photos to share. It still works, although it has some damage from the last time it went back to the OEM for repairs.
Nictel@reddit
Such a different time. Nobody would call 12.4 pounds 'portable' these days.
simstim_addict@reddit
Love the aesthetic
ShockWave_Omega@reddit
She THICC!
netwolf420@reddit
Voodoo put some real heart and soul into their machines. RIP
chuchrox@reddit
Damn that was my dream laptop back in the day.
UsefulChicken8642@reddit
I just spent 20 mins researching this thing. What a machine!
javaper@reddit
Man, I wanted one of those so bad back then. I put together an order a dozen times but just couldn't justify the price. Rahul Sood should never have sold the brand off. What a waste.
weird_quiet_guy@reddit
I like the briefcase.
bok4600@reddit
specs?
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
What I have been able to find. Although my example only has 2gb of ram, currently.
The ENVY comes with an Nvidia Geforce 6800 Go PCI Express module, up to 4 gigabytes of DDR-2 Memory, a 17" high resolution high gloss display, dual optical drives (yes, dual DVDRs - in a laptop), and SATA Raid. It runs on a Pentium 4 775 processor and also sports a 7-in-1 card reader.
bok4600@reddit
its still a beast even by today's standards
kereso83@reddit
I miss big chunky laptops with tons of different ports
vukasin123king@reddit
I NEED a late 90s/early 2000s gaming laptop. They look so awesome. Shame that they are basically impossible to find.
Apprehensive_Cherry2@reddit (OP)
This will eventually go up for sale, just want to make sure it all functions as expected. I don't want to break any sub rules but I can message you when it does.
randylush@reddit
PLEASE message me when it does
I NEED it
vukasin123king@reddit
Unless you are in the Balkans shipping would be way too much. My budget is also nonexistent right now. Thanks for the offer anyways.
Solid_Horcado@reddit
My God, it's beautiful. 😍 And those 2 optical drives might be the most baller thing ever.
evilgeniustodd@reddit
Omg, dual dvd roms
FAMICOMASTER@reddit
Pretty sweet, wish modern laptops had port selection like that
VulcarTheMerciless@reddit
That's a beauty!!!
m1k3e@reddit
Goddamn, this makes my Inspiron 7500 look like a netbook 😁
Volhn@reddit
That’s a lot of ports!
JDMWeeb@reddit
Beautiful
Konig-Wolf@reddit
What a freaking UNIT...absolutely beautiful. The color, the stance, the DUAL optical drives...my goodness, absolutely amazing find.
kenef@reddit
Amazing! I just got my hands on an Alienware M18x R2 with 2x gtx675 in SLI. It also has a capture card.. No double optical drives tho.
Epena501@reddit
I miss laptops with multiple inputs already baked in. Now you’re lucky to even just get one USB connection.
MechanicalTurkish@reddit
Damn. I thought the Green Monster was in Fenway Park and non-portable.
SpeedySuperFast@reddit
I really envy the time they made devices in all these cool colours!
IfarmExpIRL@reddit
6000 thousand dollars for these.. i wanted one so so bad
FTFreddyYT@reddit
HOLY SHI-
I need one of those
darkmannz@reddit
That is very cool!
Burnout21@reddit
Yikes I remember these "Desktop replacements". I had a friend with one who installed a P4 extreme edition in his and as far as I can tell the battery was there to add weight to slow any robbing gita down as they get a hernia trying to run off with it.
ubergeekking@reddit
I used to own the Alienware version of this laptop. The M7700.
Sure felt like more than 12 lbs.
Temetka@reddit
That is a beast from a bygone era when the battery was meant to last long enough to get you from outlet to outlet. Never seen one with dual optical drives though. I dig the color. Really cool.
KingDaveRa@reddit
Oh wow, I want one!
I've been pondering looking for an early 2000s gaming laptop. The specs were crazy!
Lukeno94@reddit
That... is phenomenal. There can't be more than a tiny handful in existence, as I doubt they sold well to begin with!